Rain Rain Go Away! Two days is enough!

Nothing like a classic yacht to raise your spirits on a gray and rainy day.

We passed this beauty right after going through the Wrightsville Beach Bridge.  We're always a bit nervous around this area as we lost our rudder here seven years ago!  We were down to only three boats when we went through the bridge because Pekabu III is  at Carolina Beach State Park about 10 miles further south and Pinnacle  ran aground getting out of the marina.

We make it safely through the Wrightsville Beach Bridge.

The rain didn't seem to bother the brave souls who like to fish right at the many inlets that riddle this part of the NC coast.  It makes it hard to judge your timing for bridges because for a while you'll be getting over a knot of current boosting your speed only to have it set against you when you pass an inlet.  

Cars and fishermen dot the beach at this inlet.

We had a boost through Snow Cut but noticed that the 65' bridge there was reading 63' on it's vertical clearance boards.  We relayed the information to Pinnacle because their mast height is 64+'!  (they never did catch up to us and have decided to head outside to Charleston tomorrow after they make it through the Snow Cut bridge at dead low tide!)  As we headed out into the Cape Fear River, we spied  Pekabu III  in the marina.

Pekabu III is right of center.

We would have liked to join Pete and Kathy there, but remained at the Harbour Village Marina for a second night (and day) so Dan could try to figure our why our alternator wasn't charging the batteries while we were motoring.  He thinks he has pinpointed the issue...a bad battery switch.  He did some jury rigging today and we'll see if it helps when we get underway tomorrow.

We made it to Southport and are tied up at the South Harbor Village Marina.  It's a really nice place with good facilities, good restaurants and good rates!  Now we just need a little sunshine. 

~~~_/)~~~M&D